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Homelessness and Foreclosures

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Services for Real Estate Pros

bumLas Vegas is known to have one of the largest populations of homeless in the U.S. How this is determined is beyond me but I understand there are 'census counters' for just the homeless.  The homeless seem to be increasing as the rate of foreclosures go up.  With more than 55% of Las Vegas MLS listings in some sort of foreclosure it was bound to happen.  So sad. I have never been personally affected but I did use to volunteer at our church's food pantry and hand out bags of food to some of the down and out. 

This past week homelessness hit home (no pun intended) on a more personal level...a young man, probably in his 20's or 30's, came to our door and wanted food.  My husband was not home and I felt uncomfortable opening the security screen.  He kept asking and I finally just walked away from the door.  I kept an eye on him as he wandered from door to door up and down the street.  There are many older people and single people in the neighborhood and I wanted to make sure he did not push his way into someone's home.  Finally someone 2 doors down to the right of us gave him what looked like a can of soup.  He walked back to his bike and sat on the grass in front of a house 2 doors to the left of us but across the street.  It was easy to keep an eye on him.  A couple hours later my hubby came home...we checked and the man was sleeping on the grass (or passed out).  After calling 311 an ambulance and the paramedics showed up.  I have almost no doubt this was just a homeless person trying to fill his stomach and get a good nights sleep.  He eventually got on his bike and rode away.  Many of the homeless are a result of mental illness (and they want to be homeless) but many others today are a victim of circumstances...I felt sorry for this young man...but on the other hand he could of been someone 'casing out' a house to rob or a potential victim to attack.

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Comments (1)

Kimberly Grant
Exit Leon Crawford Realty - Huntsville, AL
Real Estate Agent - Huntsville Alabama
This is true Mary.  You never know the circumstances of a person's situation but at the same time you cannot be too careful these days.  You never know someone's motives.  There are a lot of dishonest people out there that will try to take advantage of your sympathy and kind nature.
Apr 24, 2008 10:15 AM